Standoff ends in arrest Houlton man holds police at bay 2 hours

HOULTON – A local man is scheduled to appear today in Maine District Court in Houlton in connection with a standoff with police over the weekend.

Peter Joseph, 64, of Houlton was charged with terrorizing and causing a police standoff. No one was injured in the two-hour incident, according to Darrell Malone, Houlton police chief.

No weapons were involved, Malone said. Joseph, who has a history of problems with police, is being held at the Aroostook County Jail in lieu of posting $10,000 cash bail with one surety.

The incident began at about 6:42 p.m. Saturday when police received a call that an individual had a gun pointed out of a second-story apartment window on Grove Street, according to Malone.

Joseph allegedly made threats against a few people, saying that he had a shotgun, some ammunition and that he would use it, according to the chief. Four local police officers and two Maine State Police troopers talked with Joseph for about two hours by telephone and through the window. During that time, no shots were fired, Malone said.

Joseph was alone at the time in his apartment, the police chief said. Neighbors were not evacuated, but were told to stay indoors until the incident was over, according to Malone.

When Joseph surrendered, police determined that he did not have a gun, the police chief said.

Joseph apparently had been drinking and was upset about something, according to Malone. The reason for Joseph’s being upset was still under investigation on Sunday afternoon, according to the chief.